"Viksit Bharat" represents the ambitious vision of the government to transform India into a developed nation by 2047. A multipronged governmental initiative, Viksit Bharat signifies India’s journey towards development and prosperity, progress and growth in various sectors such as economic development, social development, educational development, and international relations among other things. The idea behind this phrase is that India can reach its full potential and become a thriving and powerful nation, where all citizens have access to better opportunities and a higher standard of living. This vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 has strong foreign relations dimension as well. Since national policies are closely connected with external policies and domestic politics is largely influenced by international politics, no national development can be envisioned without a progressive foreign policy. It is in this context, India’s neighbourhood first policy aimed at developing stronger and closer relations with the South Asian neighbours critical for India internal and external security and national progress has to be seen in the broader perspective for envisioning the idea of Viksit Bharat by 2047. As can be seen India's neighbourhood policy focuses on building strong relationships with neighbouring countries in South Asia, including Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Maldives for achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat.
Background : India's 'Neighbourhood First Policy' is a strategic approach to managing relations with countries in its immediate neighbourhood, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The policy aims to enhance physical, digital, and people-topeople connectivity across the region, as well as augment trade and commerce. It has evolved into an institutional priority for all relevant arms of the Government managing relations and policies with the neighbourhood.
The policy's significance lies in its strategic importance and regional stability, focusing on strong bilateral ties, fostering a stable environment that promotes mutual interests and peace. For instance, India's enhanced ties with Bangladesh until the regime change has taken place had fortified security and cooperation. Economic integration and trade enhancement are also aimed at, with India being Nepal's largest trade partner. Infrastructure development is also emphasized, with India participating in Bhutan's hydroelectric projects and supporting infrastructure projects in Nepal.
People-to-people connectivity is enhanced through projects like the construction of the Jaffna Cultural Centre and scholarships for Sri Lankan students in India. The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme has provided training and capacity-building opportunities for professionals from neighboring countries, fostering closer cultural and professional bonds.
India's Neighbourhood First policy emphasizes its commitment to providing humanitarian aid, establishing its role as a regional leader. Security and defense cooperation are prioritized, with India actively engaging in capacity-building initiatives and defense collaborations to enhance collective security.
Multilateral engagements and diplomatic successes are also key to the policy's success. India's active participation in regional organizations like BIMSTEC and SAARC enhances cooperation on common issues. Regional initiatives and cultural exchanges contribute to regional stability, economic cooperation, and collective security in the Indian Ocean region.
In a nutshell, India's Neighbourhood First policy is a strategic initiative launched by the Indian government to strengthen relationships and foster cooperation with its neighbouring countries. The policy aims to achieve broader developmental goals by fostering regional stability, economic integration, and mutual trust including strengthening diplomatic ties, promoting trade and investment, facilitating infrastructure development, addressing security issues, enhancing cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and actively participating in regional organizations like SAARC, BIMSTEC, and IORA. This policy has been critical for India's geopolitical and economic aspirations, as it aims to pave the way for sustainable development and prosperity within its borders and in the broader South Asian region. It underscores India's commitment to being a responsible regional player and emphasizes the significance of collaborative efforts to address common challenges and achieve shared goals.
India's success in the policy has been attributed to diplomatic engagements, infrastructure development, security cooperation, regional initiatives, and cultural exchanges. Some of the key aspects of India's neighbourhood policy have been underlined below to understand the significance of this policy for India to be Viksit Bharat@2047. These are:
1. BBIN (Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal) Initiative: Enhancing regional connectivity, trade, and energy cooperation.
2. SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation): Promoting regional cooperation, trade, and cultural exchanges.
3. BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation): Fostering economic and security cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region.
4. Act East Policy: Strengthening ties with Southeast Asia, particularly through the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) framework.
5. Neighbourhood First: Prioritizing regional cooperation and stability, addressing shared challenges like terrorism, climate change, and pandemics.
6. Economic development and assistance: Providing development aid, lines of credit, and capacity-building programs for neighbouring countries.
7. Connectivity initiatives: Developing transportation networks, energy grids, and digital connectivity across the region.
8. Cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties: Promoting tourism, education, and cultural exchanges to strengthen regional bonds.
These initiatives aim to create a stable, prosperous, and interconnected region, supporting the Viksit Bharat vision. However, the geopolitical situation in India’s neighbourhood with a hostile Pakistan, instable Afghanistan, regime change and Islamic mobocracy in Bangladesh, economic ruination and civic unrest in Sri Lanka and political instability in Nepal pose serious implications for India’s Viksit Yojana. Therefore to inject fresh energy into the Neighbourhood First policy, the Indian government should focus on diplomatic outreach, conflict resolution, economic integration, security cooperation, multilateral engagement, and cultural diplomacy. Diplomatic outreach should prioritize high-level visits, summit meetings, and regular dialogue to address outstanding issues and build trust. Conflict resolution should involve intensifying efforts to resolve border disputes and other conflicts through dialogue and mediation, implementing confidence-building measures such as joint military exercises and cultural exchanges.
Economic integration should accelerate efforts to improve connectivity and economic integration through infrastructure projects and trade facilitation. Continued economic assistance to neighbours to enhance India's image as a reliable partner. Security cooperation should strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism, maritime security, and border management, exploring greater military diplomacy to reduce misunderstandings and enhance national security.
Multilateral engagement should play a proactive role in regional multilateral organizations to address common challenges and deepen engagement in SAARC, BIMSTEC, and IORA to boost regional cooperation. Cultural diplomacy should expand programs like ITEC, cultural festivals, and tourism initiatives to enhance people-to-people ties and utilize soft-power assets to build positive perceptions of India.
By implementing these measures, the Indian government can really reinvigorate India's Neighbourhood First policy and realize its vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and interconnected region a prerequisite for a Viksit Bharat.
Roadblocks
Irrespective of India’s much spirited initiative of positive engagement with the neighbours attaching impeccable importance to them in New Delhi’s policy designs, the recent developments in its neighbourhood has seriously concerned India’s roadmap for a secure, stable and peaceful neighbourhood. Challenges such as political instability, unresolved border disputes, geopolitical rivalries, economic disparities, internal instability, and limited progress in SAARC posed serious stumbling blocks in New Delhi’s desire to scale global heights.
Way Forward
To reinvigorate the policy and realize its vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and interconnected region, Indian government should focus on several key areas such as diplomatic outreach and engagement, economic integration and infrastructure development, security cooperation, multilateral engagement, conflict resolution and confidence-building measures, cultural diplomacy and peopleto-people ties, environmental cooperation, public diplomacy and soft power, conflict prevention and crisis management, youth empowerment, and youth empowerment. Given the changing geopolitical situation in the South Asian region, developments in Bangladesh, enmity with Pakistan and Chinese belligerence in India’s neighbourhood, Nepal and Maldives conundrums needs serious reflection from Indian point of view. For India to be a viksit Bharat must need to take its neighbours into confidence. Without taking the immediate neighbours into its comfort zone, the aspiration of Viksit Bharat may take longer to materialize. In the lines of a nearly neighbour is better than a distant relative has to be truly actualized in India’s policy process towards its immediate neighbours through its neighbourhood first policy.
By Prof. Ramakrushna Pradhan
(The content of this article reflects the views of writers and contributors, not necessarily those of the publisher and editor. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only)
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